Fuel delivery detector

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for indicating the prior minimum level of fuel in an oil fuel tank after the tank has been refilled. A float system contained within the fuel tank is mechanically connected to a marker which draws a vertical line on a graduated changeable paper tab fitted to the exterior of the tank. The marked line permanently indicates the minimum fluid level in the tank prior to filling and serves to verify the amount of fuel subsequently added to the tank. Alternately, the float is linked to the indicator so as to move the indicator only in the direction of decreasing indication, with the indicator frictionally engaged to rest at the minimum level reached, when the float rises after the tank is refilled.

United States Patent 1191 Festa 111 3,880,109 @451 Apr. 29, 1975 FUELDELIVERY DETECTOR [75] Inventor: Albert P. Fest-a. Brooklyn. N.Y.

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization.

Inc.. New York. NY. 1 a part interest [22] Filed: Feb. 28. 1974 I21]Appl. No.: 446.686

Primary liranziner-Richard C. Oueisser Aizn'slunr Examiner-Denis E. CorrAlmrm'y. Agenl, or Firm-Howard lv Podell [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus forindicating the prior minimum level of fuel in an oil fuel tank after thetank has been refilled. A float system contained within the fuel tank ismechanically connected to a marker which draws a vertical line on agraduated changeable paper tah fitted to the exterior of the tank. Themarked line permanently indicates the minimum fluid level in the tankprior to filling and serves to verify the amount of fuel subsequentlyadded to the tank. Alternately, the float is linked to the indicator soas to move the indicator only in the direction of decreasing indication.with the indicator frictionally engaged to rest at the minimum levelreached. when the float rises after the tank is refilled.

2 Claims. 3 Drawing Figures FUEL DELIVERY DE'II'KTOR SUMMARY OF 'IHliINVENTION My invention relates to a level indicator system for a fttelor oil tank.

A float system contained within an oil tank is mechanically connected toa marking pen fitted on the exterior of the tank. The pen marks itsposition on a changeable graduated tab of paper.

A major advantage of my invention is that it provides a method ofverifying the consumption of fuel oil utilized from the attached tank.since the tab permanently indicates the level of fuel that was in thetank prior to the tank being refilled and also indicates the maximumlevel in the tank after refilling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The objects and features of theinvention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention. taken togetherwith the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I illustrates a perspective view of a fuel tank in which the deviceis installed;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cabinet containing themarking pen and float: and

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an alternateembodiment of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF 'lHI-I PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively tothe drawing. in which similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views. FIGS. I-Z show the device Itlinstalled in a conventional oil fuel tank II containing fuel oil I2. Arectangular cabinet [5 with a hinged door 2| is mounted on top of tankII. On the inside surface 22 of the hinged door 2] is mounted agraduated vertical metal tab plate I9 to which a replaceably paper tab34 may be affixed. When the hinged door 2] is in a closed position. amarking pen 25 rests on the paper tab 34. Marking pen 25 is held againstthe paper tab 34 by tension spring 22 which is connected to shaft 17 ateye hook 26 and to the marking pen 25 by collar 27. Pen 25 is held inposition by a collar 24 which is mounted at the end of shaft I7. ShaftI7 extends downward through gasketed hole 28 below bottom base 36 of therectangular cabinet I5 into the oil tank I].

Metal rod I4 in tank I] is loosely linked to vertical shaft I7. One endof rod I4 is fitted with a float for riding on the surface of the oil 12and the other end 39 of rod l4 is rotatably fixed to fixed arm 38 belowcabinet base 36.

Vertical movement of float I3 consequently causes marking pen 25 to markpaper tab 34 with the indi cated fuel level.

In use. a new paper tab 34 is inserted prior to an anticipated fueldelivery and the marking pen 25 continuously marks the tank level priorto and after the fuel delivery, thus recording the minimum and maximumfuel levels in the tank II and serving to verify the fuel delivcryinvoice.

An alternate embodiment of the device 40 is shown in FIG. 3. Float 47 isfastened to arm 48 that is rotatably pinned by pin 61 to vertical shaft43 which is fixed (Ill to the male threaded fitting 4|. Fitting 4| isfastened to a female threaded collar in the top of the wall of tank I l.with float 47 and arm 48 rotating in response to the level of oil [2 insaid tank about pin 6]. Shaft 42 is fixed to indicator 62. and looselyfits through eye 63 of arm 48 terminating at its lower end in a ball 64.Ball 64 is of larger diameter than the diameter of eye 63.

A perforated disc 44 is fitted about shaft 42 of a diameter to fitwithin lilting 4| and to be held in place by transparent housing 49 isthreaded into place in fitting 4]. A flat spring 65 is fixed to disc 44to frictionally engage shaft 42 so that shaft 42 will move downwardsonly when ball 64 is engr .'d by eye 63 of arm 48 and arm 48 and float47 are moving downwards in response to a reduction of oil level in theattached tank. Spring 65 permits manual readjustment of the position ofshaft 42 and attached indicator 62 when housing 49 is unthreaded fromfitting 4].

A pair of sealing gasket washers 45 are mounted about the disk 44 toprovide a seal when housing 49 is installed in fitting 4I.

Transparent enclosure 49 is embossed with markings SI corresponding tofuel tank levels.

In operation. washers 45 are set close about disc 44 and the enclosure49 fastened in place. with disc 44 seated in fitting 4] and indicator 62indicating the existing fuel level.

As float 47 travels down in response to decreasing fuel tank level.indicator 62 is drawn downwards. When the attached tank is refilled.float 47 rises but indicator 62 remains at its minimum indicatedsetting. to indicate the tank level prior to refilling. until manuallyreset.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of theinvention described herein. such modifications being within the spiritand scope of the invention claimed. it is indicated that all mattercontained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting inscope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desired tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I. An indicating mechanism for marking the fluid level of the fluid in atank so as to indicate the minimum fluid level in the tank existingprior to subsequent fill of the tank and that may be set to indicate theactual level of the fluid in the tank after the tank has been filled.comprising a float attached to a float arm which is pivotably mounted ona fixed member located inside a tank for holding fluids.

anindicator unit mounted on the exterior of the top of the tank. saidindicator unit incorporating a vertical indicator shaft which extendsfrom beyond the upper exterior of the tank into the interior of thetank. with the lower end of said shaft extending below the float arm.and with the lower interior end of the shaft fitted with means toloosely bear against the underside of the float arm when the float armrests on said means.

said vertical shaft mounted in a fitting fastened to the top of thetank. in slideable frictional engagement with said fitting. such thatonce the vertical shaft has been manually set to bear against the floatarm. downward movement ofthe float arm responsive to a lowering ofliquid level in the tank results in corresponding downward movement ofthe vertical shaft. while upward movement of the float arm.

(ill

ing detaehably fastened to the fitting fastened to the top of the tank.said housing enclosing the section of the indicator shaft extendingbeyond the exterior of the tank.

1. An indicating mechanism for marking the fluid level of the fluid in atank so as to indicate the minimum fluid level in the tank existingprior to subsequent fill of the tank and that may be set to indicate theactual level of the fluid in the tank after the tank has been filled,comprising a float attached to a float arm which is pivotably mounted ona fixed member located inside a tank for holding fluids, an indicatorunit mounted on the exterior of the top of the tank, said indicator unitincorporating a vertical indicator shaft which extends from beyond theupper exterior of the tank into the interior of the tank, with the lowerend of said shaft extending below the float arm, and with the lowerinterior end of the shaft fitted with means to loosely bear against theunderside of the float arm when the float arm rests on said means, saidvertical shaft mounted in a fitting fastened to the top of the tank, inslideable frictional engagement with said fitting, such that once thevertical shaft has been manually set to bear against the float arm,downward movement of the float arm responsive to a lowering of liquidlevel in the tank results in corresponding downward movement of thevertical shaft, while upward movement of the float arm, caused byfilling of liquid into the tank, does not result in movement of theindicator shaft from its position prior to the filling of the liquidinto the tank.
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which theindicator unit incorporates a transparent hollow housing detachablyfastened to the fitting fastened to the top of the tank, said housingenclosing the section of the indicator shaft extending beyond theexterior of the tank.